DSHS Issues Oil Spill Precautions – March 27, 2014
Due to the recent oil spill in Galveston Bay, DSHS advises people not to eat seafood from areas contaminated with oil. People should not keep or eat seafood that has oil on it or tastes or smells like oil. DSHS also advises people not to swim in areas where they can see oil.
There is no indication that seafood in the marketplace has been impacted by the oil spill. DSHS has increased surveillance at seafood wholesalers and distributors to help ensure that seafood that makes its way to the marketplace is not contaminated.
DSHS has not closed any areas to the harvesting of fish, shrimp or crabs. Unrelated to the spill, Galveston Bay is temporarily closed to oyster harvesting.
Consumption Advisory
Frequently Asked Questions
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Flu Surveillance — April 11, 2014
DSHS’s latest flu surveillance, for the week ending April 5, classifies the geographic distribution of flu activity in Texas as “local,” where there are outbreaks of influenza or increases in influenza-like illnesses and recent laboratory-confirmed influenza in a single region of the state. Influenza laboratory data and influenza-like illness indicators have demonstrated a consistent decrease for the last several weeks and ILI intensity is now considered low throughout Texas.
Texas has confirmed 18 pediatric flu deaths this season.
DSHS encourages everyone six months old and older to get a dose of flu vaccine. The vaccine changes each year to protect against the strains of flu researchers expect to be circulating, so people need to be vaccinated for each flu season.
Latest Available DSHS Weekly Flu Surveillance Report
Historical DSHS Flu Surveillance Reports
TexasFlu.org
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West Nile — 2013
DSHS has confirmed 172 human cases of West Nile illness in Texas in 2013, including 13 deaths.
West Nile is a mosquito-borne virus. There are two forms of the illness, West Nile neuroinvasive disease (WNND) and West Nile fever (WN fever). The symptoms of severe infection from West Nile neuroinvasive disease include headache, high fever, neck stiffness, stupor, disorientation, coma, tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness and paralysis. West Nile fever is the milder form of the illness. Symptoms include fever, headache, body aches, and occasionally a skin rash on the trunk of the body and swollen lymph glands.
DSHS reminds Texans to reduce the risk of exposure by eliminating standing water and other mosquito breeding areas; making sure door, porch and window screens are in good condition; and using a repellent that contains DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus or IR3535 when outdoors.
Human West Nile Cases By County for 2013
Human West Nile Cases By County for 2012
Historical case count data
More West Nile data
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